title: Changes in CD4 count among persons living with HIV/AIDS following Hurricane Katrina.
abstract: To examine the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the disease progression of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A), CD4 counts during the 18 months immediately prior and subsequent to Katrina were obtained from the Louisiana Office of Public Health. PLWH/A were determined to be either non-residents of the New Orleans area, returning evacuees or evacuees who had returned to the area within 18 months. A mixed model repeated measures ANOVA showed significant effects for race, sex, age, year of diagnosis, and mode of exposure. A significant main effect for residence was found, as well as an interaction of residence by time of CD4 count (pre-Katrina vs. post-Katrina), indicating that, while non-returning evacuees had lower overall CD4 counts, the change in CD4 counts of non-returning evacuees dropped more sharply than those of the returning PLWH/A or non-residents. While these results point to a potential need for the population of PLWH/A who continue to be affected by Katrina, they also provide important data on the effect that large-scale disasters and stressful life events may have on individuals with chronic disease.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, USA. billy.robinson@la.gov
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wendell
authors.forename: DeAnn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gruber
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D004190:Disasters; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D055820:New Orleans / Q000208:ethnology; D012111:Residence Characteristics